Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 15, 2012 20:19:38 GMT 12
Ex Singapore Air Force Hawker Hunter FR74A, 517, "ZK-JIL", which arrived in NZ in 1995 - first flew here in 2000, and has been 'resting' in the Tauranga Classic Flyers Museum since 2006, due to rising operational costs, is hopefully set to fly again soon - and in particular for the Tauranga Airshow. With help and support from some special people and hopefully the engine runs smoothly, then she will be a great attraction during the Tauranga airshow weekend...and then ...well maybe Ohakea and Wanaka... But thats a long way off yet! Engine runs and possible first test flight later this week... I have just reserviced and installed the live ejection seat, and hopefully all goes well for the test flights. I have added this in the Experimental forum, because the aircraft is on the Experimental register.  |
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Post by Andy Wright on Jan 15, 2012 20:37:56 GMT 12
Magnificent, Glen. All the best with bringing her back to life.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2012 20:50:33 GMT 12
Ditto. I can't make it to Tauranga but I hope to be at Ohakea. All the more excited if JIL will be there.
And please....pics!
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 15, 2012 20:52:09 GMT 12
Thanks Andy, but I must admit my work is only with the ejection seat .. and ironically one hopes that it is the only thing that is never 'used'... !! It is the only live seated civvy aircraft in thecountry. The chaps sorting out the registration, CAA paperwork and serviceability of the systems are the first line of making sure she is a 'goer'.... here's wishing all goes to plan....
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 15, 2012 21:42:39 GMT 12
A picc from 2006. Apologies, cannot confirm the picture taker!! Some talcum in the brake chute makes for a nice touch on landing!!  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 15, 2012 22:09:54 GMT 12
Great work Glen, and the rest of the team.
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 17, 2012 23:02:15 GMT 12
HH, ZK-JIL, 05FEB2006, TAURANGA AIRSHOW.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 23:53:01 GMT 12
I went the the classic wings air museum... must have been last monday and saw you guys working on the hunter. You probably don't remember seeing me haha. But I was a 16 year old with his dad. 6ft 2" and wearing a black and yellow tee shirt. You were testing the control surfaces at the time, more specificly the ailerons.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 18, 2012 0:00:36 GMT 12
Classic Flyers Museum. Classic Wings is a magazine.  |
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 18, 2012 0:13:23 GMT 12
Hiya, um I was only there last Friday and Saturday - (so if it was Monday it must have been Jim checking the control surfaces )... I definately was only testing the ejection seat cables and pulloff values of the sears in the firing units... (no carts installed) Nice to know there is other interested young people out there....thanks for posting your message. Regards
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2012 12:12:29 GMT 12
Yeah it was an older guy worker inside the cockpit when I was there. Woops I meant flyer's  |
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on Jan 25, 2012 21:23:59 GMT 12
Hawker Hunter #ZK-JIL, flew today for the first time since 2006. Don Simm's sent me this shortcut to a news article. Everything pretty much was sorted yesterday, but Jim and David were having problems with the canopy seal ... and I was on standby to fly to Tauranga today to take the seat out for a fix, and then back in again...luckily Jim fixed the problem, and from this news clip she took off and landed back okay. I have no word of snags at this time. I'll be with the jet helping Jim over the weekend...hoping all goes and stays well.... www.sunlive.co.nz/news/21152-jet-roars-end-four-year-silence.html#vid |
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 25, 2012 22:08:43 GMT 12
Yay! Top Effort from Team Hunter.... I've just sorted out transport and ticket to Tauranga for the show and look forward to seeing JIL in action on Sunday.
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Post by India Four Two on Jan 26, 2012 0:02:07 GMT 12
I watched the flight today. The first time I've seen a Hunter in the air for thirty years. Fantastic!
The news clip is nice, but it's a shame they didn't show the high speed pass, complete with that marvellous "Blue Note" on the run-in.
I was told that the plan is to do two more test flights on Thursday. The best place to watch is from the grass between the terminal and the tower.
Simon
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Post by Ykato on Jan 26, 2012 14:13:16 GMT 12
it Just did a blast past over the western side of Hamilton heading north v  . |
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Post by efliernz on Jan 26, 2012 14:21:33 GMT 12
As I read this 7 minutes later... it is probably home already!
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Post by Bruce on Jan 26, 2012 15:26:38 GMT 12
dang... I was just out flying West of Hamilton zone, but had landed and gone home - Missed it!  still, we see it over the weekend... |
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Post by efliernz on Jan 26, 2012 16:07:46 GMT 12
My spies tell me it was back doing circuits in TG within 10 minutes of its Hamilton sightings!
Bruce - are you heading to the SAA flyin part of the weekend?
Pete
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Post by Officer Crabtree on Jan 26, 2012 16:24:27 GMT 12
Can't wait to see it, whenever that may be!
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Post by Bruce on Jan 26, 2012 16:37:22 GMT 12
My spies tell me it was back doing circuits in TG within 10 minutes of its Hamilton sightings! Bruce - are you heading to the SAA flyin part of the weekend? Pete I'll be there with the SAA goings on, but CKE isn't going to make it - I havent been able to get myself to a suitable standard to fly it over solo yet, and the other two guys who are able to fly it are taking their own aircraft. Tried my best, but thats life! |
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still, we see it over the weekend...